Press Releases – Page 13

Civic Groups And City Councilmembers Urge Passage Of Election Reform Bills That Will Improve Election Administration And Encourage Voter Participation In New York City

October 15, 2012 - Effort Aims to Eliminate Persistent Challenges on Election Day.

Citizens Union Issues Endorsements For November 2012 General Elections In New York City

October 11, 2012 - Eric Adams, Tony Avella, Marty Golden, And Diane Savino for State Senate; Joe Borelli, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ron Kim, Nicole Malliotakis, And Nily Rozic for State Assembly.

Good Government Groups React To Announcement Of JCOPE Investigation

September 10, 2012 - New York good government groups comprised of Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Union of the City of New York, League of Women Voters - New York State, and New York Public Interest Research Group, this afternoon released the following joint statement in response to the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announcement that they will be conducting a “substantial basis” investigation.

Citizens Union Urges JCOPE to Perform Full Investigation of Lopez Matter

September 7, 2012 - Lopez Investigation is a Test of JCOPE & Future of Ethics Reform in Albany.

Citizens Union Files JCOPE Complaint Regarding Assembly Handling of Lopez Sexual Harassment Charges and Settlement

August 31, 2012 - Good Government Group calls for investigations to determine facts and whether public officers law was violated.

Citizens Union Announces Candidate Preferences In September Primary Elections

August 30, 2012 - Supports challengers to ethically challenged incumbents Shirley Huntley, Naomi Rivera, William Boyland, Jr., and Carmen Arroyo. Supports Barbara Jaffe for Manhattan surrogate. Issues preference for nine challengers, two incumbents; 19 Senate and 42 Assembly primaries in New York City are uncontested.

Citizens Union Responds To Ethics Commission’s Draft Guidelines On Disclosure Of Business Relationships

August 24, 2012 - Good Government Group supports guidelines that prioritize transparency.

Citizens Union Calls on Vito Lopez to Resign

August 24, 2012 - Citizens Union is alarmed to read the detailed and sordid findings of the bipartisan Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance that Assemblymember Vito Lopez of Brooklyn verbally, physically, and repeatedly harassed two Assembly employees, but is pleased by the swift and strong action taken today by the Assembly to censure him and remove him from his leadership post and benefits of seniority.

Citizens Union Calls on City Board of Elections to Modernize Reporting of Unofficial Results on Election Night

July 17, 2012 - Good Government Group provides legal justification for implementing changes administratively without amending state law.

Citizens Union and Civic Groups Defends NYC Campaign Finance System in Amicus Brief, Ognibene v. Parkes

July 2, 2012 - New York City’s model public financing system must be upheld, replicated statewide. Good Government Groups file brief in Ognibene v. Parkes.

Citizens Union Calls For Strong And Full Disclosure Of Funders To Organizations That Lobby In Testimony Before The Joint Commission On Public Ethics (JCOPE)

June 7, 2012 - Citizens Union testified today before the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), calling on the state’s ethics body to promulgate rules that will robustly disclose donors to lobbyists and clients.

Recent Redistricting Rulings Show How Our Laws Allow Partisan Gerrymandering and Why Permanent Reform Was Needed

May 4, 2012 - These decisions demonstrate more clearly than ever before that we could not have relied on the courts or the Justice Department to correct our fatally flawed redistricting process.

Citizens Union Announces Participation In Fair Elections Campaign In Needed Push For Campaign Finance Reform

April 18, 2012 - Diverse coalition represents unique opportunity to achieve much-needed campaign finance reform that includes public financing. New York State should replicate city’s successful matching system that empowers small donors, closes loopholes, robustly enforces the law and ends pay-to-play culture.

Citizens Union State Budget Reform Report Card: Two “I”s for Improvement, but Still Incomplete

April 11, 2012 - Report card finds mixed results in state’s implementation of 2007 budget reforms. Further reforms needed to enhance transparency, integrity, and efficiency of budget process.

Citizens Union Commends City Agreement Allowing Civilian Police Complaints To Be Prosecuted Independently

March 28, 2012 - Large number of CCRB substantiated cases in which recommended penalties are downgraded. Agreement will bring greater independence and transparency to the handling of police misconduct.

Citizens Union Opposes Proposed Budget Language Allowing For Executive Transfer Of Funds Without Legislative Approval

March 23, 2012 - Calls on Governor and Legislative Leaders to Address State Government Efficiency Concerns through Separate Legislation Modeled on NYC Budget Process. Citizens Union Also Urges Three-Day Aging for Final Budget Bills.

Good Government Groups Call on Albany to Use Information Technology to Make State Government More Transparent

March 22, 2012 - Good Government Groups call for new Transparency for NY State Government. Use information technology to open NY State government.

Citizens Union: Today’s Special Election Results In Nearly One-third Of All Sitting State Legislators Having Been First Elected In A Special Election

March 20, 2012 - Undemocratic party nomination process undermines competition for vacant open seats and chooses insiders beholden to party interests, not voters. Reforms needed to open up the process of filling vacancies. Citizens Union urges the legislature to take up bills proposed by Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries and Linda Rosenthal.

Citizens Union Backs Lew Fidler In Senate District 27 Special Election

March 14, 2012 - Fidler's commitment to reform campaign finance and restore integrity to representation in the district key factors in endorsement. Experienced Lawmaker would bring needed Gravitas to Albany.

Citizens Union And League Of Women Voters New York State Support Just Released Constitutional Amendment To Permanently Reform Redistricting Process

March 12, 2012 - Proposal creates independent commission to draw state legislative and congressional district lines. Creates a more inclusive and independent commission while discouraging gerrymandering in future map drawing.

Citizens Union and League of Women Voters Announce Joint Support for Permanent Redistricting Reform

March 8, 2012 - Governor-negotiated constitutional amendment, mirroring statute, and improved 2012 district lines represent best reform option.

Court-drawn Congressional Maps Show Why Lasting Redistricting Reform Needed

March 6, 2012 - Citizens Union urges Governor and Legislature to act now to improve maps for 2012 and enact permanent constitutional and statutory changes.

Redistricting Experts Call For Governor To Use Veto Threat To Achieve Permanent Redistricting Reform During Briefing Held By Citizens Union

February 28, 2012 - "A Veto is Essentially A Spanking - It Stings, But It is Temporary."

Former NY Attorney General Robert Abrams: Strongest Legal Path To Redistricting Reform Achieved Through A Constitutional Amendment And Statute To Ensure Amendment’s Passage

February 24, 2012 - Former AG details legal framework for a constitutional amendment and statute.

Citizens Union Issues Letter Calling On Governor Cuomo To Use Veto Power To Achieve Two Important Redistricting Reform Goals: Lasting Redistricting Reform And Better 2012 Maps

February 23, 2012 - Good Government Groups wants Governor to seize the moment and seek permanent constitutional reform. LATFOR drawn maps demonstrate why fundamental and lasting redistricting reform is needed.